While i count the days till the flight from HEL to SF, I thought I'd share some of the crazy things i found out you can do in California. I was trying to find out cool, awesome, different and weird places and luckily California seems to be full of those! I actually found so many that i did not know which ones to post here at the blog. I did manage to pick some and at the end of the post you can find links to the pages that lists almost everything!

Seen the Alcatraz? Don't really fancy the mass tourism at LA walking streets? Here is a list of some of the weird alternative things to do in California!
While searching for places to visit and things to do i learned that Americans love their things big. And by big I mean, BIG! They have it all, the biggest doughnut in the world, the biggest dinosaurs, the biggest chair, largest meals, huge buildings and even the biggest Yo-Yo of all time.

Finland does feel quite boring after all this research. After all these stories, videos and photos i have seen and heard. In California, there is everything. Haunted houses, absolutely ridiculously sized roadside attractions, amusement parks and alternative shops selling skulls, Universal Studios, art festivals, witch houses, escape rooms, parks and oh my god so many things that this list could on and on and on.

2. FEEL TRIPPY WHILE SOBER AT MOSAIC HOUSE $
So somebody actually took the time to bling the whole house with itty bitty tiny mosaic pieces. And actually all the furniture, and the garden, and the pathway.. not sure if there is anything that is not covered in mosaic.Read more: http://www.mosaictilehouse.com

3. SOMETHING DEAD AT NECROMANCE$-$$$
Since you are reading this list, i take it that you don't want to bring the old school boring keyring and american flags as a souvenir so maybe something.. a bit shady, weird, and something that once was alive. Skulls, fins, teeth, bats, snakes, horns, magical rocks and things you cant even imagine.
Necromance is a creepy store full of surprises, just make sure of the regulations of your own country, some of the stuff might be illegal to bring in.Onlinestore and directions: https://id3469.securedata.net/necromance/index.php

4. HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE AT HEARST CASTLE $$
I'm not super stoked about castles but this one got my attention, surroundings are huge and it takes all my imagination to think that once somebody actually lived in here, took baths in golden tub and spent afternoons in the glass covered garden. My first tought was " it would be super awesome to do a photoshoot here" and then i did check out the requirements... you need a million dollars in insurance, oh well grin emoticon :DRead more: http://hearstcastle.org

7. JELLY BELLY TOUR $$
Did you know it takes over a week for one jelly belly to form up to a final product?
Some people just love Jelly Bellys.. aaand some people purely hate those. Anyways, there is a free tour at the jelly belly factory!Read more: http://www.jellybelly.com/california-factory-tours

8. BANNED TOYS, FOR WHAT? $
As an European, i find American warning signs on toys and products quite funny, as they tend to state the obvious like "Don't eat plastic parts", or " Peanut butter might include peanuts".
They did ban the metallic darts pictured above because over 7000 people got injuries from them, I'm just wondering didn't the sticker say " Metallic darts are sharp and you should not throw those to anyone"?Read more: http://www.burlingamepezmuseum.com/bannedtoy/contactus.html

9. HUMAN SIZED MONOPOLY FIELD$
Does it count as sports when you walk around the square gaming area for a couple of hours? You can play Monopoly in this huge 86 square meters big "board" at San Jose!Read more: http://www.monopolyinthepark.com

10. LUCHA VA VOOM$$
So somebody did get the idea to mix adult guys wrestling in crazy Mexican suits with comedians and burlesque dancers to make one big weird and fun event. The shows are often sold out so be sure to book in advance!Read more: http://luchavavoom.com

Writer, Maria.

Travelblog of a Finnish female solo traveller lurking and wandering around the globe. Trying to find adventures, cats and once in a lifetime places to save in to the camera roll. And maybe food. And nerdy stuff. And possibly also my missing self-protection instinct!